Toy



E. PEPE.

TOY

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I4, 192!- 1,390,923.

PatentedSepfl 13, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- WITH:

E. PEPE.

TOY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, I92]- 1,390,923. PatentedSept. 13, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"nu, IIIIIIIIIVI "I!!! ATTORNEY WITNIBSI E. PEPE.

TOY-

APPLICATION FILED FEB.I4,192I- 1,390,923. Patentedsept. 13, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E d I PE 6 INVENTOR 56204 %f% w was ATTORNEY WL UNITED STATES EMIDIO PEPE, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT.

TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

Application filed February 14, 1921. Serial No. 444,740.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIDIO PEPE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Derby, in the county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in toys, and the primary object thereof is to produce a toy embodying a spirally formed upwardly extending spindle on which is mounted a runner adapted to rotate around and descend therefrom through the force of gravity.

A further object is to produce a toy of this character in which a runner is arranged "for gravitation and rotary movement downwardly on a spiral spindle, said runner car rying oppositely directed arms to the ends of which are connected objects that are caused to revolve around the spindle in the descent of the runner, all of the elements constituting the improvement being separable and removable, whereby the same may be stored to provide a small compact bundle for storage or shipment, when the toy is not in use. d

A still further and very important object of the invention is to produce a toy of this character in which a runner gravitates downwardly and revolves on a spiral spindle, in which means is provided whereby the runner may be raised or elevated on the spindle without necessitating the turning or revolving of therunner, said means positively causing the turning of the runner on the spindle, when the latter gravitates downwardly on the said spindle.

A further object is to produce a toy of this character in which a runner is arranged on a spiral spindle for revoluble movement when permitted to gravitate downwardly thereof, said runner being free for upward sliding on the spindle, and the said runner carrying means for balancing the toy and regulating the speed at which the runner descends on the spindle.

The foregoing, and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative arrangement of parts, such as is disclosed by the drawings which accompany and which form part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view approxlmately on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Flg. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken longitudinally through the runner, and illustrating the arrangement of the means carried by the runner for assuring the positive rotation thereof when the runner gravitates downwardly on the spindle.

Fig. 5 is a similar view but showing the arrangement of said means when the runner is to be raised on the spindle, whereby the necessity of reversing or turning the toy upside down to accomplish this purpose is entirely obviated.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of said means.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the manner in which the toy aeroplanes that constitute the speed regulating and balancing means for the runner may be arranged at various angles with respect to the arm of the runner to accomplish their purposes, the full lines indicating one of the positions of the speed regulating and balancing device, and the dotted lines the remaining positions which may be assumed thereby.

Fig. 8 is a view showing the parts disasso-' ciated for storage or shipment.

Fig. 9 is a view substantially similar to Fig. 5,'but illustrating a modified form of clutch.

Fig. 10 is a similar sectional view but showing the clutch in clutching position.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the modified clutch.

As disclosed by the drawings, I employ a flat base 1. The base is preferably con structed of wood, and is round in plan and is centrally provided with a round opening 2. This opening is designed to receive therein a boss 3 formed on the lower flat and widened end 0t a substantially coneshaped standard 4. The standard has its upper and reduced end provided with a central orifice 5 in which is received one of the cone-shaped or pointed ends 6 of a spindle 7. On the other end of the spindle there is removably arranged a ball head 8. The spindle is provided with a continuous spiral groove 9.

On the spindle there is removably arranged a runner 10. In the present instance, the runner comprises preferably a body which has its edges gradually tapered from its center to its ends, and said ends are provided with oppositely extending hollow tubular arms 11. The central widened portion of the body of the runner, from the bottom face thereof, has a round orifice providing'a pocket 12 therein. The inner wall of the pocket terminates a slight but suitable distance from the outer or upper-face of the runner, and the said wall is provided with a central opening 18 through which the spirally grooved spindle 7 passes. For

' distinction, the inner wall provided by the pocket is indicated by the numeral 141, and in this pocket there is a clutch, of a novel construction and which is broadly indicated by the numeral 15. The clutch includes a substantially rectangular body portion 16 that has its corners provided with projections in the nature of spurs 17, each of the said spurs being of an equal length, and the said spurs are designed to frictionally contact with the inner wall 14: of the pocket, when the clutch is in one position. The body of the clutch has a square opening 18 therethrough through which the spirally grooved spindle passes. The clutch is re- 7 tainedin the pocket by a plate 19 that is removably secured, by elements 20 to the lower face of the runner 10. The length of the spurs is less than the depth of the pocket so that the weight of the runner will cause the said spurs to be brought into contacting engagement with the wall 14 of the pocket, when the runner descends by gravity on the spindle. When in such position, the walls provided by the squared opening 18 will be brought into the groove 9 of the spindle, and consequently cause the runner to revolve on the spindle. When the runner has fully descended and the plate 19 is in contact with the upper and reduced end of the standard 4, the clutch will drop by gravity in the pocket so that its spurs are not in contact with the inner wall 14: of the said pocket. When so arranged, the body of the clutch rests directly on the plate 19 and the walls provided by this squared opening are not in the groove of the spindle, so that a pressure exerted upon the under face of the runner permitsof the same being moved longitudinally in an upward directionon the spindle. Arelease of this pressure will, as above described, permit of the runner moving downwardly, first without rotation on the spindle, thereafter in a position to be engaged by the clutch, by virtue of such engagement to tightly tilt the clutch, and as aforestated, bring the walls provided by the squared walls thereof in the groove of the spindle. If desired, to more effectively accomplish this purpose, the inner wall 14: of the pocket may be arranged at a slight inclination, but from practice I have found that it is not an absolute requirement, while still again, if desired, the prongs of the clutch may slightly vary in length to more effectively assure the tilting of the clutch and the engagement thereof in the groove of the spindle.

The speed regulating and balancing dc vices comprise members shaped to correspond with that of aeroplanes. Each of these devices is indicated by the numeral 21, and has at its body portion 22, forward of its planes 23, or, at the nose portion thereof, a propeller blade 24. The blade is centrally pivr oted to the nose, as at 25. The propellers a re constructed. of light material and will revolve by force of air resistance when the runner gravitatcs downwardly on the spindle, thus giving the devices 21 all the appearance of aeroplanes in flight. On the body of each of the members 21, to the rear of the upper plane thereon, there is passed through a transverse opening the lower arm 26 of a wire member. The arm 26, to the inner side of the body of the plane is bent upon itself and continued longitudinally and has its end bent and continued over the arm 26 to provide the upper arm 27. The arms being constructed of metal will have a natural resiliency to tend to spring away from each other. The upper arm 27, at the end thereof, is bent downwardly over the outer face of the body of the plane, and this bent portion is indicated by the numeral 28 and is further bent to provide a hook 29 that is designed to engage the portion of the arm 26 projecting over the outer face of the body of the plane. The spring arms 26 and 27 are designed to be received in the bores of the hollow arms 11. The spring arms permit of the planes being arranged at varying inclinations with respect to the arms and with respect to the spindles, such inclinations offering varying resistance to the air, as the runner gravitates downwardly on the spindle, and consequently regulates the travel of the runner on the spindle.

A toy constructed as above described offers both amusement and instruction for children. The arrangement of the planes on the ends of the arms to regulate the speed of the downward travel of the runner, when revolving on the spindle, the novel construction of clutch whereby the runner is positively caused to rotate on the spindle in a downward direction but permitted free sliding in an opposite direction and the manner in which all the elements constituting the toy can be disassembled for storage or shipment, are novel features of construction which will commend themselves to those skilled in the art to which such inventions relate. Varying class of clutch means may be employed, and in Figs. 9 to 11 I have illustrated a modification. The runner 10 has a central opening providing a pocket 12, which is flared inwardly from its lower to its outer end. The walls of the pocket 12' may be closed by suitable plates, but it is not necessary that a top plate be employed. The clutch is in the nature of a round disk 16 that has its periphery flanged outwardly as at 17 and toothed, as at 18. The clutch 16 has a central square or rectangular openin 19 for the spirally grooved spindle 7.

hen the runner is raised on the spindle, the clutch will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 9, but when the runner is permitted to descend on the spindle, the same will be moved to the position illustrated in Fi 10. In such position, the toothed perip eral edge of the clutch will contact with the flared wall of the pocket 12', and thus lock the runner to the spindle. While in both forms of the clutch, the same has been shown as provided with spurs or teeth, it is to be understood that any form of clutch which will exert a frictional engagement either with the top plate of the pocket or the walls of the pocket may be employed. The speed regulating and propelling devices, while both of a similar shape and construction may vary in weight in the manufacture thereof. If one of these devices happens to be heavier than the other, the runner will not rotate freely on descent. Also, to balance the weight, it is simply necessary to exert a pushln or pulling action on the springs 26 insi e of the hollow arms 11 so that the aeroplanes will be carried nearer to or farther away from the spindle. The invention is further susceptible to such additional changes and modifications as fall within the scope of its claim.

Having described the claim In a toy, a vertically supported spirally grooved stem, a runner thereon having a pocket on the under face thereof, a clutch element in the ocket comprising a body portion provided with a square opening invention, I

through which the stem passes and having upstruck spurs designed when the Weight of the runner is brought thereagainst to engage the inner wall of the pocket and by virtue of such engagement to cause one or more of the walls provided by this squared opening to be received in the groove of the stem, and to cause the runner to revolve on the stem when permitted to gravitate downwardly thereon.

In testimony whereof I aflix m si nature.

EMIDI P PE. 

